defense secretary leon panetta said today the perpetrators will be hunted down. >> just as we cannot accept terrorism attacks against our cities, we cannot accept attacks against our citizens and our interests abroad. >> reporter: these weapons were left behind by the militants, according to algerian sources. their occupation of the gas plant deep in the sahara desert has cost many lives. this video broadcast on algerian television is said to have been shot on a cell phone by a hostage freed by the algerian army, walking to safety, past the bodies of those he once worked beside. nbc news has not been able to verify its authenticity. some hostages have talked of extreme brutality. >> translator: i told them that i was an algerian muslim and they said okay, okay, don't be scared. we haven't come for you. we have come to exterminate the crusaders. >> reporter: abdul rahman al najiri was their leader in some reports. it's thought there's 40 al qaeda links to the maghreb. the plant was a joint venture between algeria's state-owned company and bp. stach says five of the workers are missing